He gazed at her in awe. “No you don’t – you’re a natural beauty.”
She kissed him. “That’s very sweet of you, but I’m not meeting your family without it.”
“Why don’t you just buy some more? I’ll pay.”
“At this time of night? And besides, it’s taken me years to perfect my collection – I’ve got exactly what I need. I’ll get a cab and be back here before you know it. I won’t speak to Matthew – he probably won’t even know I’m there – like usual. Everything will be fine, I promise.”
Chapter Fifteen
Eleanor climbed out of the cab and jogged up to Matthew’s apartment, with her mind overflowing with elation. Having this fling with Joseph was thrilling. Pride fizzed through her body, mixing with her post-orgasmic glow. How many women in the country would want to be in her place right now? And remarkably Joseph seemed to be saying he liked her for more than just the physical. Somehow she’d seized his attention. In the last few days she’d realised that he had a tough and cool exterior, but his heart was full of a desire to love and be loved – just like most people. And perhaps they could have a relationship if this dating thing worked out? But whatever happened, she was thrilled to know she was now standing on her own two feet – away from Matthew, and – as from tomorrow – away from News Scape. She didn’t know how she was going to make it as a journalist, but she’d do it somehow because it was her dream. And this time she’d make sure she did it by staying true to her values.
She quietly turned the key and let herself into the apartment, hoping to avoid bumping into Matthew. Perhaps if she quickly darted to the bedroom and grabbed her make-up bag, she could skirt past his office door without him even realising she was back. Then she’d be free.
But as she stood in the warm wide hallway, she sensed a strange atmosphere smothering the air. She stood still and listened. There were strained male voices coming from the living room. Matthew was shouting, but she couldn’t make out the words. Her heart pounded with tension – she felt like an intruder. She knew she should just grab her make-up bag and leave. But it sounded as if something bad might be happening in there, so she allowed her curiosity to propel her forwards.
She pushed open the door, and her body rippled with shock as she spied Matthew sitting on one of the huge couches with Gerald Stinger. Fear slammed into her like a ten-ton truck. What the hell was he doing here?
Both men glanced up at Eleanor and the space warped between them. Gerald had paused in the middle of taking off his coat – indicating that he’d only just arrived.
She glued her feet to the carpet in the doorway. “Gerald – I’m beginning to think you’re stalking me?”
Stinger grinned like a reptile. “No, no… but I did come to see you, Eleanor – I kne
w you were coming back here.”
She narrowed her eyes. “How?”
“Let’s just say I have ears everywhere. I also know all about Ivan Quinlan’s little secrets… That was interesting, wasn’t it? How nice of Joseph to tell you everything.”
Terror gripped her as realisation dawned. “You were eavesdropping?”
He chuckled smugly. “I didn’t tell you about my most favourite way of getting information from a target, did I? Just bug them for it.”
Oh god! He’d heard everything… Joseph talking about Ivan… them making love. Her trembling voice came out a whisper. “You bugged Joseph’s apartment?”
“Correct. Well, I didn’t actually do it myself, of course. But let’s just say I knew about that break-in before it happened.”
“You arranged the burglary?”
“Oh, Eleanor, don’t look so shocked. This is tabloid journalism. My friend wasn’t able to find me anything useful when he broke in, so he planted a bug and let Quinlan do the rest. I only wanted some dirty gossip about him sleeping with groupies or something, but what a sensational story I actually got.”
Eleanor forced herself to remain calm, but her mind raced – desperately searching for a solution. Stinger clearly intended to tell the world all Joseph’s family secrets, and Eleanor refused to let that happened. But Stinger wasn’t the sort of man you could order about. She needed to get him on side; stoop to his level. Play the game.
She hardened herself. “I don’t know what you think is going on here, Gerald, but I’ve been tracking Joseph for days now, hoping to use him for my front-page scoop. I’ve forced my way into his private life and into his affections, taking the time to gain his trust. This is my story and I won’t let you take it from me.”
Stinger stared at her with a smug expression plastered over his smarmy face. It was like being a hunter who’d spent hours tracking a now half-dead gazelle, only to have it stolen by a pack of hyenas. Not that she really was planning to use Joseph for her own gain, of course. But that’s how it was for Stinger. Cold and callous. Joseph really was just a piece of meat for people like Stinger to fight over, wasn’t he? With no regard for how he felt.
Stinger growled. “I can do whatever I want – I’m your editor.” He leaned back in the chair and softened slightly. “But here’s a proposal for you. You give me your story and I’ll leave your personal involvement out of it. You’re about to become my favourite reporter. How would you like to be deputy editor?”
Eleanor unglued her feet, and – on shaking legs – strolled over to stand in front of Stinger. She glanced at Matthew, who was watching with interest.
She threw her hand to her hip. “Are you blackmailing me, Gerald?”
“I’m offering you a deal.”
“You want me to give you my Joseph Quinlan story?”
“Yeah. It pissed me off when I saw you there earlier and realised you’d managed to get close to him. You’re a complete newbie and already you’re getting stories with A-listers.” He glanced at Matthew. “It helps having a boyfriend with good contacts, doesn’t it?”